Bedfordshire CC has become the latest local authority to confirm it is launching legal action over the creation of the new unitary councils. The county council revealed this week it would be starting a judicial review over the Government's decision to give Bedford BC unitary status. Bedfordshire CC chief executive, Andrea Hill, said: ‘We have a duty to challenge what is clearly a flawed and failed decision.' Devon CC announced last week it would be challenging Exeter City Council's unitary victory. West Wiltshire DC held an extraordinary meeting yesterday (Wednesday), after The MJ went to press, to discuss the possibility of launching a judicial review. Cheshire CC chief executive Jeremy Taylor has told his staff that theirs ‘is a county worth fighting for' as the row over unitary status continues. The county council's bid for a single authority was rejected by the Government last month in favour of a two-unitary bid put forward by Chester City Council. Mr Taylor said the county council would examine ‘every scrap of information' about why the Government gave the green light to the city council plans. ‘The letter we received admits that our submission ticked all the boxes and concedes that the secretary of state considered there are risks to the financial case for two unitaries, but is still minded to go for the latter,' he said. ‘Perhaps, understandably, our staff cannot understand why Whitehall seems prepared to risk increased costs and massive disruption to services which rank among the best.' Chester City Council's bid was submitted by the former Liberal Democrat and Labour administration. The Conservative group, which took control of the council in May, has reaffirmed its opposition to the bid and its support for improved two-tier working.
